Category Archives: Gratitude to Generosity

Looking Up Instead Of Around?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #258

12 Thursday Sep 2024

Posted by in Daniel Prayed--Do You?, Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's choices, Daniel's Prayer, Dare To Be Different!, Grace, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Power of Prayer., PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?

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Looking Up Instead Of Around?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #258

I hope to spend the next few weeks looking into the book of Daniel.  I think it timely and worthwhile.  Daniel is one of my biblical heroes, and his testament to faithfulness is one of the most amazing in scripture. So what I’d like to do this morning is to take a glimpse into the heart of this young man to gain a bit of perspective that I pray will help you through each day.

The context of this excerpt of scripture is that Daniel and his friends faced imminent death, so Daniel had asked the King for time to reveal his dream after no one else could.  Daniel went home and called his three friends to pray with him for God’s answer.  And God did answer!  May we be as faithful to praise, worship and honor our God for His faithful provision when we ask—and even before we ask more often than not!  I pray that this will help you finish your week on the upswing—looking up rather than around you.  May God bless you in all your ways! (Remember Proverbs 3:5-6)

“Then Daniel went to his house,

and made the thing known

to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

his companions:

18 That they would desire mercies

of the God of heaven concerning this secret;

that Daniel and his fellows

should not perish

with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might

are his:

21 And he changeth

the times and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge

to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth

the deep and secret things:

he knoweth

what is in the darkness,

and the light

dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee,

and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2:17-23

I pray that you will find confidence, encouragement and hope in this amazing revelation of the character of our God.  He is ever faithful, and He calls us to come to Him in every situation.  May you see His hand at work today, as we live for our Lord and Savior Jesus!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

Amen and Amen!!!

Thanksgiving Blessings!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #156

20 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Choose Gratitude and show it!, Choose you this day?, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Thankful, Thankfulness with joy!, Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving Blessings!!!  A Word from THE WORD!!! #156

“O come,

let us sing

unto the LORD:

let us make a joyful noise

to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come

before his presence with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise

unto him with psalms.

3 For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King

above all gods.”  Psalm 95:1-3

 I pray that your time of Thanksgiving will include the greatest gift of all, the love of God toward us in sending HIS SON, Jesus to be our redeemer, savior, and LORD!  May God’s blessings rest upon you and yours as you take time to express your thanks in various ways.

May I just offer a few reminders of some things that could make your Thanksgiving special:

Share with someone in need out of your bounty (whether your bounty great or small

Call a friend or relative and tell them how thankful you are that God placed them in your life—

Hug your loved ones one more time, you never know when it might be the last hug—

Do something special for your spouse that doesn’t cost money, their favorite dessert, an unexpected massage, a surprise trip to see the sights or visit a friend—

Offer to help an elderly neighbor with their decorations—

Call or write someone who was a blessing to you or for some almost forgotten long ago kindness, you could make their day—

Tell your parents, children, friends and loved ones near and far that you love them, and then LOVE THEM—

Gratitude and kindness are contagious, spread them around!!!

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful

unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”  Psalm 100:1-5

May you have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving season with family and friends.  God bless you with joy and laughter!

Amen and Amen!!!

A Grateful Life??? Really??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #153

10 Friday Nov 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Consider Your ways, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Thankful, Thanksgiving, That They May Know

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A Grateful Life??? Really???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #153

 

Gratitude is an attitude, but it’s so much more and I just want to share a few thoughts in this regard.

“Serve the LORD

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”  Psalm 100:2-5

The Psalmist paints an amazing picture here of our relationship to God—and that is the root of gratitude; so let’s peruse the things that make for a grateful heart, and a productive life lived for God’s glory and our ultimate good.

We are to:

       Serve God—with gladness not grudgingly—

       Seek HIS presence—with singing not selfish squawking-

       Remember—God IS GOD, HE made us—we didn’t do it–

       BE HIS people/HIS sheep—Stop butting heads—

       Come before HIM—with grateful praise—

       Show our gratitude with words of blessing—not vain ones!

When we practice being in HIS presence and spending time with our LORD, we can learn so much about gratitude, grace, love, and humility!  Our God is a good, good God, but how will the world come to know that when we won’t live like it!  We moan and complain; we let the glitter of the world blind us to HIS truth; we choose the world over our God, which breed the worst kind of discontent!  All this when we serve the most amazing, loving, merciful and truthful God—HE loves us so much that HE sent JESUS to be our Savior and Redeemer.  Just spend some time thinking about the price that Jesus paid for us and coming into God’s presence “with thanksgiving”!  I truly believe that gratitude breeds confident faith in the God we claim to follow.  May James’ words help us understand that our God IS totally trustworthy, and we can thank HIM in all things—knowing that we can ask questions, and God won’t get mad, but HE will lead us into HIS truth, if we can but wait on the Lord! (See Psalm 37:3-8)

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect (complete/mature)

and entire,

wanting nothing. (lacking nothing)

5 If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.”  James 1:2-5

May we live ‘gratefully’ before a world of greed!  They need to see JESUS IN US!

Amen and Amen!!!

That Attitude Of Gratitude??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #150

02 Thursday Nov 2023

Posted by in A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Attitude of Gratitude, Glory To God, God's Presence Not Presents, Good Neighbor, Good News, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity

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That Attitude Of Gratitude???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #150

November has arrived—the month of cool temperatures (although we ended October here in Oklahoma with a week-long time of night freezes, not just frosts as we usually do, but freezes and seasonably early cool days), colorful leaves, pumpkins, hayrides, and bonfires!  I do love November, not only for the fall colors and temperatures but also for the season of gratitude.  We enjoy the 4th Thursday in November as ‘Thanksgiving Day’ here in the US, but gratitude is an attitude that we all need to cultivate every day, especially those who believe in and follow Jesus.  So rather than the popular “Thanksgiving Train”, or “Days of Thanks”, I simply want us to share a focus on gratitude for most of this month, for it seems to me that we now live in a culture of ‘entitlements’ with no idea of gratitude. Let’s be the change!

The Psalmist has a lot to say about an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ so let’s take a look at Psalm 100 and ask God to mold our hearts into hearts of extreme gratitude—thankful to our God, The Creator of all things; and that we ask HIM to create in us a grateful heart that will spill over on all around us.

“1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD

with gladness:

 come before his presence

 with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD

he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”  Psalm 100:1-5

Oh to be the people of gratitude that will put a smile on the face of our Lord Jesus, Father God, and The Holy Spirit; that we can spread the smile of gratitude here on earth, for we will be shouting it in heaven.  Let’s practice our ‘attitude of gratitude’ today—and then again tomorrow!  Then repeat!!!

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude,

which no man could number,

of all nations, and kindreds,

 and people, and tongues,

stood before the throne,

and before the Lamb,

clothed with white robes,

and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying,

Salvation to our God

which sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne,

and about the elders

and the four beasts,

and fell before the throne on their faces,

and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,

and thanksgiving, and honour, and power,

and might,

be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”  Revelation 7:9-12

Amen and Amen!!!

1 Or 9??? It’s Your Choice! A Word from THE WORD!!! #119

09 Wednesday Aug 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Giving and Sharing, Giving or Getting, Giving Thanks to God!, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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1 Or 9???  It’s Your Choice! A Word from THE WORD!!! #119

I have a simple and brief word for you this morning; will you be a “1” or join in the “9”?  It’s a simple but profound choice that can change your life and affect those around you in amazing ways!  Let’s consider this scripture from Jesus’ life.

“And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem,

that he passed through the midst of Samaria

and Galilee.

12 And as he entered into a certain village,

there met him ten men that were lepers,

which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said,

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them,

Go shew yourselves unto the priests.

And it came to pass, that, as they went,

they were cleansed.

15 And one of them,

when he saw that he was healed,

turned back,

and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet,

giving him thanks:

and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said,

Were there not ten cleansed?

but where are the nine?

18 There are not found

that returned to give glory to God,

save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him,

Arise, go thy way:

thy faith hath made thee whole.”  Luke 17:11-19

WOW!!!

Did you get it?  Here’s Jesus, The Son of God, traveling, as was his custom (remember no Uber!), and ten leprous men approach him (at a distance in compliance with the Jewish law of leprosy) and cry out for healing, for they didn’t have any other option, asking for Jesus’ mercy to heal them (now remember He is traveling through Samaria and Galilee).  Of course Jesus extended mercy and healing to them and commanded them to comply with the Law and to go and show themselves to the priest to be ceremonially declared ‘clean’!  So they believed HIS words and ‘took off’ without another word–kind of like we do when God hears and answers our prayers, or moves in some amazing way in our lives, or speaks to us about some particular burden that we have carried for a long time.  So often, we too ‘take off’ without a word!

But one! This ‘one’ came back, “and

with a loud voice

glorified God,

16 And fell down

on his face at his feet,

giving him thanks”

This ‘one’ returned with praise, glory, and ‘thanks-giving’ to Jesus for the healing! And Jesus noticed that there were nine who “didn’t” return! So, simply put, are you a “one” or part of the “nine” who showed no gratitude?

Just a bit of reminder for your consideration:

My Jesus–

My salvation in HIM–

Our family–

Our home–

Our job or work–

          Our children/grandchildren–

Our friends (and they are such a blessing, if you have 1 you’re blessed if you     have more than that you are abundantly blessed.)

My appliances—etc. …..

You continue.

Amen and Amen!!!